We are writing the next chapter of housing in Burien! On June 30, 2025, the Burien City Council approved Ordinance No. 868 adopting changes to the Burien Municipal Code and update the official zoning map of the City expanding the number and type of housing units permitted in residential zones across the city.
The Housing Code and Zoning Map Amendment project is an essential step to implementing the housing goals and land use plan of the Burien 2044 Comprehensive Plan. These amendments focus on achieving equitable housing growth, mitigating displacement, removing impediments to development, and meeting state legislative requirements.
The Housing Code and Zoning Map Amendments go into effect on July 9, 2025. See the official zoning map and a clean version of the code amendments here until the BMC is updated.
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Background Information
Project Goals and Background
All types of homes are affordable abundant, safe, and accessible to all Burien residents – now and in the future – regardless of income, race, family structure, household size, personal ability, or stage of life.
– Housing Element Vision Statement, Burien 2044 Comprehensive Plan
The Growth Management Act (GMA) requires local governments like Burien to “plan for and accommodate” housing affordable to all income levels. Read the Burien 2044 Comprehensive Plan and the Shape Your City community engagement summary.
Over the last couple of years, the state legislature has passed laws to direct the minimum changes necessary for implementation.
The Housing Code and Zoning Amendments effort will address the following:
- HB 1110, passed in 2023 and SB 2321 requires regulations allowing for middle housing on all lots zoned predominantly for residential use.
- HB 1337, passed in 2023 requires regulations allowing two ADUs per lot.
Middle Housing
What is middle housing?
“Middle housing” is a term used to refer to residential developments that are more dense than single-family housing and less dense than a typical midrise apartment building, but similar in scale to single-family homes. Middle housing types can be identified by the building form of the structure and the number of units within it.
The photos in this gallery are curated by Sightline Institute Modest Middle Homes Library and licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Environmental Critical Areas
The City finds that critical areas provide a variety of valuable and beneficial biological and physical functions that benefit the city and its residents including water quality protection and enhancement, fish and wildlife habitat, food chain support, flood storage, ground water recharge and discharge, aesthetic value, recreation, and beyond. To implement the goals, policies, and requirements of the Washington State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA), the Growth Management Act, the Washington State Shoreline Management Act, and the Burien 2044 Comprehensive Plan, the city applies additional regulations, restrictions, and limitations on the development of properties containing environmental critical areas and associated buffers.
Chapter 19.40 Critical Areas of the Burien Municipal Code (BMC) regulates the development of property containing critical areas such as, frequently flooded areas, geological hazardous areas (erosion, landslide, and seismic hazardous areas), wetlands, streams, fish and wildlife habitat conservation areas, and critical aquifer recharge areas. Title 20 of the BMC is the Shoreline Master Program which regulates the development within the shoreline including approximately five miles of the marine shoreline along the Puget Sound and Lake Burien. Regardless of the zoning map and development regulation amendments, any property for which environmental critical areas, shorelines are their associated buffers are present must comply with the restrictions and limitation of Chapter BMC 19.40 Critical Areas and BMC Title 20 Shoreline Master Program.
The City of Burien’s Community Development Department is working to update the City’s Critical Areas Ordinance (CAO) as a part of implementing Burien 2044 Comprehensive Plan and as required by the Growth Management Act. Visit the Critical Areas Ordinance Update Hub page to follow along.
Visit the City of Burien Map Library or reach out to a city planner via email at planning@burienwa.gov or over the phone at (206) 241-4647 to determine if your property contains mapped environmental critical areas.
Project Timeline
January – March 2025
Community Informational Sessions and Develop Draft Amendments
- 1/22/2025 Planning Commission Housing Code and Zoning Map Amendments Briefing
- 1/31/2025 Tabling at Empty Bowls
- 2/12/2025 Planning Commission Packet Unit Lot Subdivision Briefing
- 3/12/2025 Planning Commission Packet Housing Code and Zoning Map Amendments Briefing
- 3/13/2025 Tabling at Farmers Market
March – April 2025
- Online survey closed April 21, 2025
- 3/26/2025 Planning Commission Meeting
- 4/9/2025 Planning Commission Meeting
April – June 2025
Planning Commission Recommendation and Legislative Action
- 4/10/2025 SEPA Addendum Issued
- 4/21/2025 City Council Briefing
- 4/30/2025 Community Open House 3:30 p.m.- 5:30 p.m. held on the first floor of Burien City Hall (400 SW 152nd St)
- 5/20/2025 Planning Commission Public Hearing and Recommendation to City Council
- 6/6/2025 Revised SEPA Addendum Issued
- 6/16/2025 City Council Ordinance First Touch
- 6/30/2025 City Council Adopts Ordinance
- 7/9/2025 Housing Code and Zoning Map Amendments Enacted
